We Can Run the World
Date: August 10, 2008 | Category: Fashion, Featured, Media, Men, Shoes, Travel, Women
Like these earth-friendly sneakers, the new ecofabulous.com is up and running. We hope you enjoy.
Conspiring to save the planet, Brooks' BioMoGo has turned the traditional sneaker on its heel by creating a fully biodegradable midsole.
While their vinyl-based counterpart typically rots in a landfill for somewhere around 1,000 years, Brooks has created a natural, non-toxic additive that cuts the biodegrading process down to 20 years. The result? This innocent little shoe could save 29.9 million pounds of landfill-bound waste. Of equal importance, the BioMoGo does not compromise on style or performance. These sneakers are sturdy enough to support serious athletic activity.
Brooks extends their environmental commitment and sense of social responsibility to all areas of their business, from using recycled materials for packaging to contributing to various environmental charities. While we wish all of their sneakers were biodegradable, Brooks is definitely putting their best foot forward.
Nau They’re Back!
Date: June 26, 2008 | Category: Events, Fashion, Lifestyle, Men
A little over a month ago we sadly reported that sustainable fashioneer Nau was closing their highly regarded doors for lack of funding. There were a lot of really unhappy Nau enthusiasts. But we have amazing news! In part, due to the outcry from loyal customers, Nau employees kicked it into high gear to save their brand and eventually found a SoCal outdoor apparel company called Horny Toad to purchase them. They will now exist autonomously under Horny Toad's umbrella. So Nau is gone no more. Of course there's a lot more to this story; to learn the details on what went down, check out this Treehugger article. More good news: The clothes on Nau's website will remain 50% off through July. So grab those bargains while the second evolution of Nau is in the making. We cannot wait to see the next iteration. FYI, the guys jeans are gorgeous and a great deal at $69.Goodbye for Nau
Date: May 7, 2008 | Category: Fashion, Men, Women
We had tons of reasons to love Nau: a corporate code of social and environmental responsibility, a commitment to making stylish and sustainable clothing, and a program that enabled buyers to choose a charity where 5% of their sale went. So why, oh why did they go out of business? It is definitely not because they were on the road to righteousness. It is simply the fate of many internet-based business...they raised too much money (but not enough) and tried to scale too quickly. The clothing industry is tough and trying to sell garments on the internet before launching stores where people could try on the incredibly comfy and flattering pieces was a fatal error. Writing this post brings tears to my eyes. The team was so passionate and committed. There is good news in all of this bad news, however, because you can get all of their rocking outerwear at 50% off. Had my husband not ordered two more pairs of the sexy organic jeans and a gorgeous jacket to match just a week before this announcement, he would be the first to click. Nau it is time to say farewell and hope that the team brings their vision to another endeavor. With admiration and sadness, Zem and the ecofabulous team. *Photo by Ben MoonBrief Organic Lesson
Date: April 16, 2008 | Category: Fashion, Men
Wednesdays always include at least one fashion must-have, but the guys are often left in the cold. Here is one post all of our readers should cozy up to. From wind and solar powered factories to a self-imposed 5% "earth tax" donated to enviro-orgs, Rapanui does their tagline, "The Green Clothing Company," justice. The latest fabric they've adopted is convergence cotton, grown organically on land reclaimed from commercial farmers. It's said that after three years, the chemical footprint from previous practices will be completely eradicated (see, there's hope!). Using this unbelievably soft cotton, Rapanui is weaving ethical undies. They're simple basics, but the cuts are sustainably sexy, hypoallergenic, comfortable and naturally breathable. I've been searching for an eco replacement for my husband's Calvin's, so the men's boxer-brief caught my eye. As far as unmentionables go, Rapanui is worth a mention indeed.t-Robot
Date: March 27, 2008 | Category: Children, Fashion, Men, Women
Printing practices for clothing can be a messy, toxic business, but Partybots.org takes extra care in every step of the process - they use Alternative Earth Apparel’s 100% organic cotton or eco blend shirts (personally, I prefer the pure organic cotton since the blend isn’t biodegradable) and embellish them with graphics made with low-impact color dyes and renewable soy printing solvents. Partybots founder Karl Addison hand-illustrates and screens every design, making sure each item is as clean as possible without losing its inherent punchiness (designs include a nun by a moped, a banjo-playing skeleton, a variety of robots, and llamas dressed in suits). The shirts are available for men, women, and children, so don't be surprised if my husband and son show up as a pair of "dance n' bananas". Party on.Men Finally Get to Walk the Talk
Date: February 25, 2008 | Category: Fashion, Men, Shoes
An animal-free and eco-friendly line of men's footwear that's also hot... who woulda thought? Bourgeois Boheme (UK online retailer) has just launched Esperituel, handsome footwear handcrafted in Portugal and made from microfibre - a high-quality, PVC-free leather alternative, grounded with water-based glues. The "leather" is derived from polyurethane (PU), and while we tend to shy away from plastics, when taking into consideration traditional tanning, factory farming and processing of leather, we think PU is a step up. To don a stylish set of Esperituels, check out Bourgeois Boheme (they've got the ladies covered too).Shirting the Issue
Date: February 1, 2008 | Category: Bags, Fashion, Men, Women
ONNO specializes in sustainable textiles - making hip t-shirts and tote bags, using materials garnered from bamboo, organic cotton and hemp. Derived from one of the most abundant, least impacting plants in the world, their bamboo shirts feel "like a blend of cashmere and silk," no really, they do. And, they naturally wick away moisture and nasty bacteria. The organic cotton bags are perfect for loading up groceries at the supermarket, and the classic t-shirts will keep you comfortable, stylish, and, of course, considerate of the planet. Great, green stuff for men is hard to come by. With Onno on the scene, excuses are getting harder and harder to come by.Indigo Girls and Boys
Date: January 20, 2008 | Category: Fashion, Men, Women
Not only are Sharkah Chakra jeans gorgeous and flattering (on both sexes), but they tell an ethical, sustainable story from start to finish. The cotton is fairtrade organic, grown without any chemicals; the dye is 100% natural, pure indigo; each pair is hand woven on a loom using a minimal amount of electricity and employing rural Indians; they recycle and re-use 50% of the waste water from the finishing process; they purchase power for their office from Ecotricity; and, since the denim travels around the world, they offset everything they cannot eliminate through CO2balance. Even more, it's all packaged in an extremely green and innovative manner. This is exactly the kind of company that is going to enable me to keep my New Year's Resolution of only buying sustainable clothing. The one way they are not unique from their denim competitors is that these high end jeans will still set you back a few hundred dollars (but we do always say that you should vote with your wallet).Tune in to These Baby Tees
Date: December 31, 2007 | Category: Fashion, Men, Women
Many mamas and papas would trade their "Kiss Army Membership Card" to have their baby rocking and rolling around in one of these tees from Starting Green. Made from organic, undyed cotton, screen-printed with water-based dyes, they showcase the black & white shots of the illustrious music photographer Norman Seeff. Choose from the Jackson Five, Kiss, Johnny Rotten or Sly Stone (decisions, decisions, I know). But don't worry if a little spilled milk gets on this perfect picture. A little eco laundry detergent will keep junior rocking in the phosphate-free world.Spread Your Green Meme
Date: December 4, 2007 | Category: Fashion, Lifestyle, Men, ecoMan
Promotional tchotchkies proliferate our lives - from the dentist to the car dealership. And now that there is a green way to spread your meme. You can make a sustainable statement with your promo items that is hopefully more in line with the rest of your business practices. Long Beach based company, Rethreads, provides a lot of the traditional doodads minus the environmental mess. While their array is too vast to cover, I'll clue you in on some of our ecofab favorites: A 100% biodegradable corn-plastic coffee mug. A recycled plastic sport bottle. A burlap mesh trucker hat. Bamboo coasters. An organic cotton hoody. Many things are listed as recycled, but we recommend inquiring about what percentage is recycled material before you think you're getting a truly "green" product. This is the sort of company where the shades of green are on a serious continuum, so you need to clearly communicate your needs and values to them. They have an enthusiastic staff that is dedicated to taking the company as far down the green brick road as possible, so let them know that you embrace their commitment. They're also proud members of 1% for the Planet.
